THE WHAT? H&M’s founding Persson family has continued to increase its ownership of the fashion retailer, taking its stake above 68 percent as the group works to improve sales and profitability amid intensifying competition.
THE DETAILS The Persson family’s Ramsbury Invest has acquired 36.8 million H&M shares during 2026, increasing the family and related entities’ ownership to more than 68 percent at the end of August, compared with 49.5 percent at the beginning of 2021. The purchases have prompted external speculation that the family could eventually take H&M private, although Ramsbury Invest has not confirmed such plans and said the Perssons remain long-term owners. CEO Daniel Erver, appointed in 2024, has been working to strengthen the brand and profitability, but sales declined 1 percent in the first quarter and were flat in the second amid competition from Shein and Inditex-owned Zara.
THE WHY? The growing family stake increases the Perssons’ control over H&M at a time when management is attempting to reposition the retailer for longer-term growth, while raising questions among investors about its future ownership structure. Under Swedish rules, ownership of 90 percent would allow a controlling shareholder to compel the acquisition of remaining shares.
Source: Reuters
